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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2011 Aug;79(4):488-99.
doi: 10.1037/a0024254.

Family group cognitive-behavioral preventive intervention for families of depressed parents: 18- and 24-month outcomes

Bruce E Compas  1 , Rex Forehand, Jennifer C Thigpen, Gary Keller, Emily J Hardcastle, David A Cole, Jennifer Potts, Kelly H Watson, Aaron Rakow, Christina Colletti, Kristen Reeslund, Jessica Fear, Emily Garai, Laura McKee, M J Merchant, Lorinda Roberts
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Family group cognitive-behavioral preventive intervention for families of depressed parents: 18- and 24-month outcomes

Bruce E Compas et al. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2011 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: In a long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial (Compas et al., 2009) to examine the effects at 18- and 24-month follow-ups of a family group cognitive-behavioral (FGCB) preventive intervention for mental health outcomes for children and parents from families (N = 111) of parents with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Method: Parents with a history of MDD and their 9- to 15-year-old children were randomly assigned to a FGCB intervention or a written information comparison condition. Children's internalizing, externalizing, anxiety/depression, and depressive symptoms; episodes of MDD and other psychiatric diagnoses; and parents' depressive symptoms and episodes of MDD were assessed at 18 and 24 months after randomization.

Results: Children in the FGCB condition were significantly lower in self-reports of anxiety/depression and internalizing symptoms at 18 months and were significantly lower in self-reports of externalizing symptoms at 18 and 24 months. Rates of MDD were significantly lower for children in the FGCB intervention over the 24-month follow-up (odds ratio = 2.91). Marginal effects were found for parents' symptoms of depression at 18 and 24 months but not for episodes of MDD.

Conclusions: Support was found for a FGCB preventive intervention for children of parents with a history of MDD significantly reducing children's episodes of MDD over a period of 2 years. Significant effects for the FGCB intervention were also found on internalizing and externalizing symptoms, with stronger effects at 18- than at 24-month follow-up.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant Screening, Randomization, and Retention Through 24-month Follow-Up.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Survival curve illustrating the percentage of children who remained nondepressed during the 2-year follow-up
Note. FGCB = Family Group Cognitive Behavioral condition; WI = Written Information comparison condition; DSR = Depression Symptom Rating
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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